AT ITS monthly meeting the members of Sligo Borough Council adopted a motion tabled by Cllr Declan Bree calling on Health Minister James Reilly, to meet with a deputation from the Save Our Cancer Service campaign group

Addressing the meeting Cllr Bree said “Six months ago the Save our Cancer Services campaign group wrote to the new Minister for Health Dr James Reilly, with a request that he meet with a deputation to discuss the restoration of the Breast Cancer service in Sligo General Hospital.

“Given that Minister Reilly and the Tanaiste Mr Eamon Gilmore, and Minister of State John Perry, and Deputy Tony McLoughlin, and Senators Imelda Henry, Susan O’Keeffe and Michael Comiskey, had all given solemn commitments that the Breast Cancer service would be restored to Sligo, the campaign group was understandably concerned with the lack of progress in delivering on the commitments.

“Their concern grew to dismay last month when the Minister refused to accede to their request for a meeting. The excuse he offered to the Cancer campaigners was that he had a ‘very heavy schedule of government and departmental business’.

“Surely this can only be described as an insult to everyone in Sligo and the region who have campaigned for the breast cancer services in recent year.

“Last month when there was a proposal to close down a Community Nursing Home in Abbeyleix, the government deputy from the area Charlie Flanagan T.D. organised a meeting between a local deputation and the Minister for Health within 72 hours.

“This is a constituency with five government Oireachtas members - a Minister of State, a Dail Deputy and three Senators. What in goodness name are the doing? Have they no clout? Have they no influence? Or do they just not care?” asked Cllr Bree.

Cllr Bree then proposed the following motion which was unanimously adopted: “Concerned at the refusal of the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly T.D., to meet with a deputation from the Save Our Cancer Services NW to discuss the re-opening of the Breast Cancer Service in Sligo General Hospital; and recognising the pressing need to have the service restored; this Council calls on the Minister for Health to reverse his decision and to meet with the deputation from the Save Our Cancer Services committee without undue delay; and further this Council calls on Government Oireachtas members from the area to make the necessary representations to ensure that the meeting with the Minister takes place.”